Vito·Corleone.
Different from the simple attire in the past, today he can be said to be dressed up for the occasion.
Wearing a pure and almost absolute black, a long black velvet coat, cut close to the body, with neat lines, without any unnecessary decoration.
The shoulder line was slightly raised, making his shoulders, which were not broad at all, suddenly look more majestic.
Holding the hilt of the sword in his right hand, the end of the scabbard gently tapped the railing.
The clicking sound was as slow as his steps.
But wherever Corleone touched, everyone instinctively moved to both sides to avoid it.
Just like sea water meets the bow of a ship, fire touches the ice and snow.
When a beast approaches slowly, even the bravest hound will tuck its tail and retreat.
There was no expression on his face.
Just walking through the chaotic crowd, slowly walking towards this almost out-of-control territory, as if order itself.
The noise of the crowd is like the ebbing sea water, disappearing layer by layer.
Fighting Arena, which can accommodate 2,500 people, is so quiet at the moment that you can hear the wind blowing from the top of your head.
Everyone looked at this man wearing All-Black Formal Attire, using a sword as a staff, and slowly walked into the center of the crowd.
Who would have thought that just a few months ago, he was a prisoner who was tied to a tree and almost hanged by the warrior group, a Farmer who climbed up from the mud.
But now in King's Landing, the absolute center of the seven the Seven Kingdoms powers, at this moment, all the nobles, knights, wealthy businessmen, and civilians have become the audience.
And he is the only protagonist in the center of the stage.
"It's Ser Corleone!"
After a brief silence, a voice exploded from the crowd.
He was a middle-aged man wearing coarse shorts and short brown clothes, with traces of weather and frost on his face that were common among the lower class people.
"Ser! Do you still remember me?"
He tried to squeeze through the crowd, but there were too many people around him, but this did not prevent the man from reaching out half of his body to shout Corleone.
"Last month, my son was hit by a carriage and broke his leg. Jinpaozi said he fell on his own and refused to care."
"I carried him all over King's Landing, but no maester was willing to treat him. They said the five Copper Penny consultation fee was not even enough to buy the ointment!"
"It was you! You were the one who set his bones in the shack in Flea Bottom and didn't confiscate a penny from me. Later, you asked Black Hand Mafia to recover compensation for me!"
As he spoke, his voice was choked with sobs.
"He's fine, Ser!"
"He's healed. He can run and jump now. Yesterday he helped me carry a bucket of salted fish from the pier to Cured Meat Street!"
Hearing this, Corleone did not stop, but looked at that person.
"Tommy, the tibia of his left leg is fractured and slightly displaced. I put a splint on him and told you not to let him bear weight for six weeks."
He paused, and there was no emotion in his voice. "But you started asking him to help move the goods on the fourth week."
As soon as these words came out, the man's face turned red.
"Ser, I... I'm sorry."
"Keep this sentence and tell your son."
Corleone glanced at him, but did not blame him too much. "He was able to move the goods so quickly. It seems that he is recovering well."
Hearing this, the man's tears finally fell.
"Thank you so much, Ser Corleone!"
"I owe you a favor. As long as you say a word, I will repay it at any time!"
As soon as these words came out, even more enthusiastic shouts broke out around him.
"Ser Corleone!"
"Ser Corleone!"
At this moment, another man waved at Corleone again.
"Ser Corleone, do you remember me? I am East Flea Bottom, the bread seller Tom!"
"You helped us repair the oven. The old broken oven always leaked smoke, which made my wife almost blind. You sent people over, laid new bricks, and changed the flue. Now the bread baked is fluffy and soft!"
"Ser Corleone, I am Grey Alley's cobbler, do you remember me? You helped us repair that smelly ditch!"
"Ser! Ser! My child had a fever and had convulsions. It was your Clinic who saved him!"
"Ser! You gave me a job, I am now Coordinators of Ring of Order!"
After a while, shouts came one after another.
Like the tide, one wave after another.
One wave after another.
There was gratitude, admiration, and almost fanatical love in those voices.
This is true love from the heart, accumulated with Gold Dragon and help.
Corleone continued to move forward without stopping.
There is no excessive sensationalism or impassioned speeches, and it is completely unlike the false enthusiasm of traditional politicians who say "I am with you."
He just kept responding to people's cheers, clearly remembered the names of everyone who had been favored by him, and called them out accurately, and then just exchanged greetings with them.
At the VIP table, countless nobles watched this scene.
Earl Lych was holding the wine glass, his hand was hanging in the air, and he forgot to drink.
His son Herb stood beside him, his eyes wide open, like a landlubber seeing the sea for the first time.
Although he knew that Corleone was a very capable person, he had never clearly realized that he had such a great influence among civilians.
No, not just civilians.
Even many nobles waved their arms to express their gratitude to Corleone.
"There are forty thousand people in Flea Bottom."
At this time, Earl Lych murmured in a low voice, "It is said that among these 40,000 people, at least a quarter have received his favor directly or indirectly in the past few months."
"The rest are the relatives, neighbors, and friends of these people."
"We made the right decision, Herb."
Taking a deep breath, Earl Lych patted his son on the shoulder and sighed with some relief, "From now on, there will be two kings in King's Landing."
"One sits on the Iron Throne, and the other... is in Flea Bottom."
As soon as these words came out, Herb was stunned.
He just looked at the civilians who stretched out their hands and cried out his name to Corleone.
Those faces were so enthusiastic that they were crowded like pilgrims.
Corleone Wherever he went, the crowd separated like the tide and closed again like the tide.
Like a battleship parting the waves, like a king patrolling the territory.
Corleone Keep moving forward.
The shouting continued.
"Ser! Ser!"
Another voice.
But this time it's Balman·Byrch.
He didn't know when he got up from the ground, staggered through the crowd, and stood in front of Corleone, with sweat still on his face.
"Ser!" As if he guessed why Corleone came, Ser Balman's lips kept trembling, "I... I can explain...
"What just happened...
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However, facing Balman's explanation, Corleone just walked around Balman without saying a word and continued forward, bumping into his shoulder when passing by.
Balman stood there with his mouth still open and the words still stuck in his throat.
But the only person who needed to hear his explanation was gone.
Go all the way through the passage in the center of the VIP seats.
On both sides are the nobles, knights and wealthy merchants of King's Landing.
Everywhere he went, people stood up one after another.
It was as if instinct was telling them that they must stand up when this man passed by.
Otherwise you will be crushed by his shadow.
Corleone ignored them.
Falyse, Bronn, Cersei, and even Tywin ignored them and just walked straight to the front of the VIP table.
Then, kneel down on one knee in front of King Tommen Baratheon I.
This unexpected move made everyone stop shouting.
After all, everyone thought that he would go to see Tywin first, or to appease Queen Mother, or to deal with the meaningless quarrel between women first.
But he didn't.
Corleone was the first to come to the king and show his respect to this eight-year-old king who looked like a piece of decoration everywhere.
Say hello.
Tommen sat in a high-backed chair.
He looked at the knight in front of him who knelt down on one knee, a trace of uneasiness flashing in his green eyes.
After all, he still remembered how Corleone knocked down a magic mountain as tall as Brown Bear to the ground in the last imperial meeting, and almost killed that guy.
But before he could speak, Corleone took the lead and put his right hand on his chest. "Your Majesty."
"Please forgive me for not being able to welcome you in person. Today is the opening day of Ring of Order. I am busy with trivial matters."
As he spoke, he raised his head and looked into Tommen's eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Seeing this, Tommen opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.
Grand Maester Pycelle had taught him the etiquette of meeting his ministers, but he had never spoken these words to anyone.
Because no one has ever truly respected him.
"You, get up." Tommen's voice stuttered.
But Corleone did not stand up immediately. He just looked at the king and said slowly, "Ring of Order is my hard work and the future of the 40,000 civilians in Flea Bottom. As the king, you are willing to witness its birth with your own eyes."
"It was a pleasure for Flea Bottom and Black Hand Mafia."
Hearing this, Tommen fell silent.
Yes, he really doesn't want to be the king, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be recognized.
Somehow, Tommen, who usually obeyed his grandfather and mother, felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart.
Then he swallowed and whispered, "Actually... Grandpa is coming. He and mother are clamoring to come."
"I didn't come here by myself...
Hearing this, Corleone smiled slightly, with some gentleness and calmness in his dark eyes.
"Your Majesty."
"You know whether you want to come or not. This is an ability in itself."
"Many adults live their entire lives without knowing what they want."
"It's good that you know that at eight years old."
As soon as these words came out, Tommen was stunned.
Because he never knew he was "good".
The bachelor said his studies were "fair", his mother said he "don't get into trouble", and grandpa... grandpa would only make him obedient and learn how to be an obedient king.
No one has ever told him that you are fine.
Tommen looked at Corleone, looking past the adults standing behind him. They were all looking at him, their king.
He suddenly felt that he was not just a decoration, but a... person who truly needed to be respected.
After a brief silence, Tommen straightened his back, jumped down from the seat, and held Corleone's arms to lift him up.
Then he turned around, faced the VIP table and his people, held one of Corleone's elbows and raised it above his head, shouting.
"This man, Vito·Corleone--is the seven the Seven Kingdoms true knights!!!"
"Ser Corleone!"
Led by the king, cheers broke out again.
This time, it was more violent than ever before, civilians, nobles, everyone were chanting the name Corleone.
Earl Lych took the lead in applauding, followed by Herb.
Immediately afterwards, the surrounding little lords, knights, wealthy businessmen, and everyone stood up and clapped wildly for the harmonious pair of monarchs and ministers.
The applause spread from the VIP seats to the knights' seats, from the knights' seats to the citizens' seats, and from the citizens' seats to the standing voting area.
Finally, the entire Ring of Order, 2,500 people applauded at the same time.
The applause was like a thunderous tsunami, as if the seven the Seven Kingdoms were beating war drums together.
"Ser Corleone!"
"Ser Corleone!"
The shouts were deafening.
It was ten times more lively than when the king, prime minister, and Queen Mother entered the venue together!
Tywin Lannister sat on a chair, his green eyes staring intently at the back of Corleone, the man cheered by 2,500 people.
He remembered that it was about thirty years ago.
At that time, he was still the prime minister of Mad King Aerys II.
That year, he held a tourney in Lannisport and invited Aerys and the royal family to the West to participate.
At that time, the port was crowded with people.
The people of the Westerlands gathered around and shouted "Aerys Your Majesty", but more people were shouting "Tywin Lannister"!
Aerys looked extremely ugly, and Tywin still remembers it even now.
And every time he thought of the other person's face, which looked like his dead father, Tywin would feel extremely happy.
But he didn't expect it.
Thirty years later.
Same scene.
The same cheers.
However, the character of Aerys Targaryen became himself, and the person who greeted the cheers was...
Vito·Corleone!
Tywin put down his glass, his movement gentle.
But the sound the cup made when it fell on the table was twice as loud as before.
The nobles around him didn't notice.
They were still clapping and cheering, rushing to wave to Corleone.
Only Tybert Hesban noticed.
Captain of the Guards Standing behind Tywin, he saw the Prime Minister's fingers trembling when he put down his wine glass.
"My lord," he whispered, "Do you need me to stop them?"
Hearing this, Tywin glanced at him.
"Are you going to chop off the hands of everyone in King's Landing who can applaud?"
As soon as these words came out, Tybert was silent for a moment, and then he stood up straight again, as if nothing had happened.
I don't know how long it took.
The cheers finally died down.
It's not that people didn't want to shout, it was Corleone who raised his hand.
The whole place fell silent.
Immediately afterwards, Corleone put down his hands and turned around.
Cersei stood there, her chest still heaving, her face still flushed from the argument.
Falyse lowered his head and couldn't see his expression clearly, but Bronn was already leaning on the pillar, with his hands folded across his chest, looking like he was watching a good show.
Corleone stared at the two women for a long time.
It took so long that Cersei couldn't stand it any longer.
"What on earth do you want to say, Vito·Corleone!"
Her voice was a bit sharp and she seemed quite impatient. She pointed at Falyse and yelled, "This woman started it first!"
But as soon as she finished speaking, Cersei regretted her behavior again.
I am Queen Mother!
Who am I to explain to him!
However, Corleone did not rush to answer. He just said softly, "We are all decent people, Queen Mother Your Majesty."
"You are wearing the crown. Mrs. Falyse's family has been passed down in the royal domain for thousands of years. Bronn Ser has made military exploits."
"Ser Balman..."
He paused. "He works in the Golden Robe."
Hearing Corleone's evaluation of himself, Balman's fat face turned red and he lowered his head unconsciously.
But fortunately no one cared about him.
Everyone listened quietly to Corleone, as if every word coming out of his mouth was very important.
"Decent people should not quarrel in public." Corleone continued, "Queen Mother Your Majesty, I know you have been wronged today. I am very sorry that such a thing happened in my territory."
"You are Queen Mother from the Seven Kingdoms. You should be respected by everyone."
"But respect is not gained by quarreling."
Cersei was silent.
Seeing this, Corleone nodded slightly, then turned to Falyse.
"Mrs. Falyse."
Hearing this, Falyse raised his head, his eyes were red, and his lips were pursed into a line.
But she didn't avoid Corleone's gaze.
"You have been wronged today." Corleone said, "It is the right thing for you to protect your sister, your husband, and the dignity of your family."
"But your way is wrong."
"True dignity is not about stepping down on others, but about standing up straighter."
Hearing this, Falyse's eyes became redder and he was silent for three seconds.
Then she lowered her head and said in a deep voice, "I understand, Ser Corleone."
Seeing that both women stopped talking, Corleone nodded with satisfaction, and then took out a small sign from his arms. It was finely made and even inlaid with gold edges and gems, with the mark of Black Hand Mafia stamped on it.
"This is Ring of Order, the highest level VIP Card. This is my apology for my poor greeting as the master."
Hearing this, Falyse raised his head and looked at the wooden sign, which was worth a lot just for its material. He licked his lips, took it with both hands, and said sincerely, "Thank you."
Corleone smiled slightly, then looked at Cersei again. "Queen Mother Your Majesty."
Cersei looked at him.
Corleone took out the same wooden card as the Supreme VIP Card that was given to her just now.
"I don't need it." Cersei gritted her teeth and refused.
"Of course, this thing is of no use to you, but it belongs to Princess Myrcella." Corleone said with a smile.
As soon as these words came out, Cersei was stunned.
"The princess is far away in Dorne, but someone should express her feelings for her."
"If you accept, I can send this to her on your behalf. You know, I have a pretty good relationship with someone, and my caravans often go to Dorne.
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"My people will give this to Princess Myrcella, and then tell her personally... that her mother is waiting for her to come back."
Hearing this, Cersei said nothing.
He just looked at the wooden sign eagerly, and his eyes even turned a little red.
But she didn't cry because she was Queen Mother from the Seven Kingdoms.
"Put away your pretense."
Queen Mother glanced at his mouth, but his attitude was not as tough as before, and he did not refuse directly.
Corleone looked at her and knew the character of this woman.
He smiled, then took a step back and stood upright under everyone's gaze.
"Queen Mother Your Majesty."
"Mrs. Falyse."
"Ser Balman."
"Ser."
He read out their names one by one, and his tone was no longer as gentle as before, but became very tough, as if he was reading out a verdict.
"Everyone should know very well that today is the opening day of Ring of Order."
"I invite you here because I hope you can witness history, not because I want you to cause trouble here."
"In the name of Black Hand Mafia, I have decided to end today's matter. I will no longer pursue the past nor hold any grudges."
"But.
As he said that, Corleone looked around everyone, his dark eyes were very calm, but his whole body suddenly exuded an unparalleled sense of oppression - [Dignity|v4]!
"If I see someone again on Ring of Order's territory, destroying the order I established."
"I blame everyone here."